The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1887-10-20

power in destroying miasmatic infu-
ences.
It is not the intention of the writer
to commend a sudden wholesale plant
ing of Encalyptues trees any more
than it is to decry wells and preach
pumps. These instances are quoted
only to show certain possible dlrec-
tions of practical effort.
A COMMISSION OF sANITARIANs
should be created by the State. 10 1T
should be appointed men of advanced
attainment IN sanitary science and
trained habits of observation. To
these this whole question should be
specially committed. Our State Board
of Health, composed of practicing
physicians, at work in their several
localities, is not so constituted at pres
ent as to be available for this purpose.
The entire time of at least three such
commissioners should be given to
study and examination Of the subject
for two years and they should be paid
literally for their services and for all
the expenses incidental to their in
curry. The two years interval between
sessions of the Legislature should be
given these experts in which to report
fully on the conditions that create or
encourage malarial diseases and the
remedies applicable. No fund ever
appropriated by the State would be
more judiciously invested or bring a
richer return directly and indirectly.
The remedies thus ascertained and
pointed out, legislation should follow,
making sure of their attainment. In
natural course we could point with
pride to this great achievement, while
a clear conscience and n fear Of de-
traction we could invite the world to
come and enjoy the results with us.
LACK OF PUBLIC LANDS
which can be sold to settlers at low
prices forms the next most serious bar
to the influx of settlers. This diff
Guilty a be met by n Of several de-
vices. For instance let the Bureau of
Immigration-which, when conditions
Justify, should be made an important
part of the State Governmental ma
chinery-register all lands offered by
all or any parties for sale at moderate
prices on reasonable terms and let the
Bureau effect sales of such lands with
out charge to Stir up a e n
timent favorable to immigration and
a lively interest in it and land owners
all over the State would be offering
acres for sale through such an agency
equal to any reasonable demand.
Legislation could be had in support Of
such a plan that would materially assist
its development:
H "A SWAMP LANDS
could be cleared and dyked and ditched
and thousands of acres added, not only
to the u of our people but to
the basis of taxation too. If the State
could today buy a million acres at a
cost Of two dollars per acre and sell
hem tomorrow for a dollar an acre to
5000 actual settlers, it would be a
money-making speculation, paradox
cal as the assertion may seem. There
dIC C1lOuSdI1OC VI dClCS " uIlCld1IIlCu,
undrained pocosins in the East belong
ing to individuals which could be
bought up by the State and brought
into shape for settlers at a cost that
would quickly come back to the treas
ury with indirect grains, not to be
measured in dollars and cents.
OTHER REFORMS
would come in the train of these that
would not only benefit new settlers
but old dwellers as we'll. Local laws
would be advantageously amended
and business methods and systems
would change for the better. The
writer might particularize many simple
lessons in political economy, we should
set ourselves to con in this connection
but already this article has passed the
limits first set for it. It's original in
tention was to sketch in outline and
leave the filling in to be supplied by
the discussion that might be provoked.
Certainly the subject is one worthy of
general attention and a broad, enlight-
ened handling at the hands of the
press Of the State. If this should be
had, public attention would be aroused
to what the writer deems the need of
the hour and this would be the full
measure of what he might hope to re-
suit from his humble effort. Discus
sion is in order-the wider and fuller
it may be the better. A resume of